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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. HANSING. UPRIGHT PIANO AGTION. 4

No. 398,151. Patented Feb.19,1889.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

S. HANSING.

UPRIGHT PIANO ACTION. No. 398,151. Patented Feb. '19, 1889.

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3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

S HANSING UPRIGHT PIANO ACTION.

.No. 398,151. Patented Feb. 19, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

SlEGFR-IED HANSING, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

UPRlGHT-PIANO ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 398,151, dated February 19, 1889. Application filed November 8, 1888. Serial No. 290,300. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, SIEGFRIED HANSING, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Upright -Piano Actions, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an upright-piano action which responds readily to the touch and combines facility of repetition with reliability and ease of movement; and the invention consists of an upright-piano action in which the hammer-check is supported on a pivoted and spring-pressed hammer-check lever that is pivoted close to the jack-lever and engaged by a check-wire that is attached to the jack-lever and passed through an opening of the hammer-check lever, as will be fully described hereinafter, and finally pointed outin the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent side elevations of my improved upright -piano action, showing the same, respectively, in aposition of rest, in an intermediate position for repetition, and in the act of striking the string.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the key-lever, which is provided with an equalizing-lever, a, on which rests the pilot B, that is connected at its lower part by a pivot-link, b, to the lowermost bar of the action-frame and at its upper end to the jack-lever C, which is fulcrumed to the main bar of the actionframe. The rear end of the jack-lever C is provided with the usual spoon-shaped wire for operating the damper-lever. To the middle part of the jack-lever C is rigidly secured, at right angles thereto, an upright post, (1, to the upper end of which is fulcrumed the jack D, which is d awn in backward direction by a spring, (1', that is applied by its lower end to the post (I, and retained at its bent upper end by a staple or eye, (P, of the jack, which latter engages a shoulder of the hammer-butt E, so as to operate the hammer in the usual manner by the lifting of the jack. To the front end of the jack-lever C is applied a check-wire, e, which passes through an opening in the hammer-check lever F, that is pivoted to the post (I, and supported at its front end by a wire spring, f, that is attached to the jack-lever C and applied by its curved free end to the under side of the hammer-check lever 1 A felt cushion, 6 is attached to the jack-lever below the hammer-check lever, so as to provide a yielding support for the same. A cushion, c, is also applied to the upper side of the hammer-check lever, said cushion forming a yielding rest for the check-piece e, the shank of which is threaded, so as to be adjusted higher or lower on the jack-lever C. The hammer-check lever F carries the wire shank f of the hammer-check F and the bridle-wire f, to the upper end of which the bridle f is attached,which passes through the lower end of a shoe, E that is applied to the hammer-buttE, as shown clearly in the drawings. The remaining accessories of the actionsueh as an adjustable check for the jack, a spring that engages the hammer-butt, and a hammer-rest-are the same in uprightpiano actions.

The essential feature of my improved upright-piano action consists in the sensitive and responsive action of the hammer-check and its lever, whereby the hammer is very effective in repetition. This is accomplished by the connection of the hammer-check lever with the jack-lever, by which a very reliable action of the hannner-check and the proper cushioning of the shoe of the hammer-butt is produced. On depressing the key-lever so that the hammer strikes the string, the jacklever is lifted, which carries along the hammer-check lever, so as to apply the hammercheck to the shoe of the hammer as soon as the hammer has struck the string, as shown in Fig. 3. When the key-lever returns to its position of rest, the check c of the jack-leverC engages the hammer-check lever and returns the same with the jacklever C and the hammer-check into its normal position, carrying also, by means of the bridle-wire and bridle, the hammer back into its normal position. \Vhen in quick repetition the key-lever is quickly oscillated, the hammer check responds, by the elastic cushioning of its lever and the action of the check 6, quickly to the oscillating motions of the key-lever, so as to check the shoe of the hammer-butt when the hammer is in its intermediateposition between the hammer-rest and the string, as shown in Fig. 2, and hold thereby the hammer in position for quick and effective repetition.

Having" thus described my invention, I claim as new an d desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an upright piano action, the combination, with the fulcrumed j ack-lever having an adjustable check-wire and a cushioning-spring at its front end, of a hammer-check lever pivoted to a fixed post of the jack-lever, said hammer-cheek lever being provided with a slotted opening for the check-wire, and a cushion for the same, substantially as set forth;

2. In an upright-pianoaction, the combination,with a f ulcrumed jack-leverhaving an adjustable check-wire and a cushioning-spring at its front end, of a fixed post secured to the check-lever, a hammer-check lever pivoted to said post and provided with a slot for the passage of the check-Wire and a cushion for the same, a hammer-cheek secured by a wire shank to the hammer-check lever, a bridlewire, also secured to the hammer-check lever and a hammer the butt of which provided with a shoe, and a" bridle connected to the upper end of the bridle-wire, substantially as set forth In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SIEGFRIED IIANSING.

\Vitn esses:

PAUL GoEPEL, JOHN A. STRALEY. 

